World's largest mobile phone show in Barcelona canceled due to coronavirus

The world's largest mobile phone showcase, Mobile World Congress (MWC), has been canceled over coronavirus concerns, organizers have confirmed.

The GSM Association (GSMA) said it had become "impossible" for the event to go ahead as planned in Barcelona. BT, Facebook, LG, Nokia, Sony and Vodafone were among the high-profile exhibitors to have pulled out of the annual event, citing coronavirus fears, BBC reports.

MWC was due to be held in Barcelona on 24-27 February. Spain's health minister, Salvador Illa, urged people to remain calm.

Earlier on Wednesday, Illa said people should "trust in the Spanish health system" and "take decisions based on scientific evidence".

More than 100,000 people usually attend the annual event, about 6,000 of whom travel from China, BBC adds.

MWC has been held in Barcelona since 2006.

No coronavirus infection cases have been recorded in continental Spain, but a British and a German citizen did get infected on the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

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